’All this was heard and seen by King Sudraka, and he stood aghast at the sad sight.  ‘Woe is me!’ he exclaimed—­

    ’Kings may come, and Kings may go;
    What was I, to bring these low? 
    Souls so noble, slain for me,
    Were not, and will never be!’

What reck I of my realm, having lost these?’ and thereat he drew his scimitar to take his own life also.  At that moment there appeared to him the Goddess, who is Mistress of all men’s fortunes.  ‘Son,’ said she, staying his lifted hand, ’forbear thy rash purpose, and bethink thee of thy kingdom.’

“The Rajah fell prostrate before her, and cried—­’O Goddess!  I am done with life and wealth and kingdom!  If thou hast compassion on me, let my death restore these faithful ones to life; anywise I follow the path they have marked,’ ‘Son,’ replied the Goddess, ’thine affection is pleasing to me:  be it as thou wilt!  The Rajpoot and his house shall be rendered alive to thee.’  Then the King departed, and presently saw Vira-vara return, and take up again his station as before at the palace-gate.

‘Ho! there, Vira-vara!’ cried the King, ‘what meant the weeping?’

‘Let your Majesty rest well!’ answered the Rajpoot, ’it was a woman who wept, and disappeared on my approach.’  This answer completed the Rajah’s astonishment and delight; for we know—­

    ’He is brave whose tongue is silent of the trophies of his sword;
    He is great whose quiet bearing marks his greatness well assured.’

So when the day was come, he called a full council, and, declaring therein all the events of the night, he invested the faithful guard with the sovereignty of the Carnatic.

“Thus, then,” concluded King Silver-sides, “in entertaining strangers a man may add to his friends.”

“It may well be,” replied the Goose; “but a Minister should advise what is expedient, and not what is pleasing in sentiment:—­

    ’When the Priest, the Leech, the Vizir of a King his flatterers be,
    Very soon the King will part with health, and wealth, and piety.’

‘Let it pass, then,’ said Silver-sides, ’and turn we to the matter in hand.  King Jewel-plume is even now pitched under the Ghauts.  What think you?’

‘That we shall vanquish him,’ replied the Goose; ’for he disregards, as I learn, the counsel of that great statesman, the Vulture Far-sight; and the wise have said—­

’Merciless, or money-loving, deaf to counsel, false of faith,
Thoughtless, spiritless, or careless, changing course with every
breath,
Or the man who scorns his rival—­if a prince should choose a foe,
Ripe for meeting and defeating, certes he would choose him so.

He is marching without due preparation; let us send the Paddy-bird at the head of a force and attack him on his march.”

Accordingly the Paddy-bird, setting out with a force of water-fowl, fell upon the host of the Peacock-king, and did immense execution.  Disheartened thereat, King Jewel-plume summoned Far-sight, his Minister, and acknowledged to him his precipitation.